Unit 1: So, What’s Really In These E-Cigarettes/Vape Pens?

© Stanford University

BatteryAtomizer/coil

Absorbent material/cotton:Nicotine

Propylene glycolVegetable glycerin

Flavorants

Nicotine aerosol

What Are E-Cigarettes?

E-Juice/E-Liquid

E-Cigarette/Vape Pen Liquid Ingredients

Propylene GlycolVegetable Glycerin

NicotineFlavoring Chemicals

Def

init

ion

sGAS: a substance with indefinite expansion. When you let a gas out of it's bottle, it will usually keep spreading out until it's completely mixed with the air.

VAPOR: it can mean the same as gas, but it may also be used to describe a visible exhalation, such as steam or fog. "Vapor" isn't as precise a term as "gas" or "aerosol."

AEROSOL: a mixture of liquid particles suspended in a gas. Instead of just mixing with the air like a pure gas, aerosols can leave drops behind.

Do you think e-cigarettes/vape pens create a vapor, a gas, or aerosol?

It’s an Aerosol, Not a Vapor

Vapor or Aerosol

Why does it matter that e-cigarettes/vape pens create aerosols?

E-Cig Aerosol Composition

Compounds in yellow are from FDA 2012, Harmful and Potentially Harmful

Substances – Established List

• Propylene glycol• Glycerin• Flavorings (many)• Nicotine• NNN• NNK• NAB• NAT• Ethylbenzene• Benzene• Xylene• Toluene• Acetaldehyde• Formaldehyde• Naphthalene• Styrene• Benzo(b)fluoranthe

ne

• Cadmium• Silicon• Lithium• Lead• Magnesium• Manganese• Potassium• Titanium• Zinc• Zirconium• Calcium• Iron• Sulfur• Vanadium• Cobalt• Rubidium

• Benzo(ghi)perylene• Acetone• Acrolein• Silver• Nickel• Tin• Sodium• Strontium• Barium• Aluminum• Chromium• Boron• Copper• Selenium• Arsenic

• Nitrosamines,• Polycyclic

aromatic hydrocarbons

• Chlorobenzene• Crotonaldehyde• Propionaldehyde• Benzaldehyde• Valeric acid• Hexanal• Fluorine• Anthracene• Pyrene• Acenaphthylene• Acenapthene • Fluoranthene • Benz(a)anthracene • Chrysene • Retene• Benzo(a)pyrene• Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyr

ene

All of these have been found in e-cig aerosol

Where Else Can You Find These Chemicals?

NicotineFormaldehyde

Acetone

Rubidium

Propylene glycol 🡪Antifreeze Ethylbenzene 🡪Paints, Pesticides

🡪Cigarettes

🡪Nail Polish Remover

🡪Embalming 🡪Fireworks

What is Thirdhand Smoke?

?

SHS

THS

Indoor Surfaces

Thirdhand Smoke

Nicotine & other chemicals© Stanford University

Unit 2: What’s So Bad About E-Cigarettes and Vape Pens?

© Stanford University

What is Nicotine?

Nicotine Molecule •Drug

•Stimulant

•Highly Addictive

•Causes changes in brain chemistry

•Found in tobacco productsIf nicotine is unsafe, why do you think people

still choose to use products that have nicotine?

Where Can You Find Nicotine?

Nicotine in the Brain

Cyc

le o

f N

ico

tin

e A

dd

icti

on

Flavors

Cytotoxic Flavors

Cinnamon flavors may contain: Cinnamaldehyde, 2-Methoxycinnamaldehyde

Cherry flavors may contain: Benzaldehyde

Popcorn Lung

Diacetyl

Alveoli & BronchiolesExperience scarring

Image Credit: fileapopcornlunglawsuit.9k.com

Health Risks to E-cig User

Effects of E-Cigs

Why do you think people your age use e-cigs/vapes?

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Why do you think adults use e-cigs/vapes?

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Why do you think people your age DON’T use e-cigs/vapes?

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The Usual Suspects

Who is going to replace the old smokers?

YOUNG PEOPLE YOUR AGE

88% of adult smokers started before 18

$$ $

“Today's teen-ager is tomorrow's potential regular customer and the overwhelming majority of smokers first begin to smoke while in their teens. . .”

-March 31, 1981 Philip Morris Report (1)

“At least a part of the success of Marlboro Red during its most rapid growth period was because it became the brand of choice among teenagers who then stuck with it as they grew older. "

-March 31, 1981 Philip Morris Report (2)

$$ $

“The ability to attract new smokers and develop them into a young adult franchise is key to brand development.”

-1999 Philip Morris Report (3)

“They represent tomorrow's cigarette business. . . As this 14-24 age group matures, they will account for a key share of the total cigarette volume -- for at least the next 25 years.”

-September 30, 1974 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co (4)

How are e-cig manufacturers reaching young people?

What is a target audience?

“Trendy” Products

Flav

ors

Targ

eted

Mar

keti

ng

Cigarettes vs. E-cigs/Vapes Ads

Philip Morris Ad [1941] Blu Ad [2013]

Camel Ad [1993] Veppo Ad [2013]

Cigarettes vs. E-cigs/Vapes Ads

South Beach Smoke Ad [Date Unknown]

Cigarettes vs. E-cigs/Vapes Ads

Chesterfield Ad [Date Unknown]

Two Truths and a Myth

• Many e-cigs do not contain nicotine.

• People can experience secondhand exposure to the vapor released from e-cigs.

• The mist released from e-cigs is similar to fog machine mist.

E-cigs do contain nicotine.

• The amount of nicotine it contains can also be misleading. – Research shows the amount of nicotine advertised can be a

lot more or a lot less than what’s really there.

Two Truths and a Myth

• E-cigs only produce vapor.

• The vapor from e-cigs contains the nicotine, the flavor-containing chemicals, and a chemical that creates the mist you exhale.

• Some flavor chemicals, when inhaled, have been known to cause scarring in the lungs, a condition known as “popcorn lungs”.

Despite what the industry says, e-cigs produce aerosol—not vapor.

• What’s the difference between aerosol and vapor?– The difference is that vapor is 100% liquid,

while aerosol carries tiny bits of solid with it.

•Another example of an aerosol? Smoke!

Two Truths and a Myth

• Laws against selling to minors change from place to place.

• More and more schools are banning e-cigs.

• E-cigs can be used anywhere (including indoors).

E-cigs cannot be used anywhere.

• In fact, many regulations ask e-cig users to respect the same laws cigarette users follow.

Two Truths and a Myth

• When using e-cigs, there is a risk of explosions of electronics and batteries.

• The FDA currently regulates the chemical ingredients in e-cigs and what is listed on the labels.

• The heat generated in an e-cig can create formaldehyde from the liquid, and rip metals from the side of the device. This is delivered to the lungs.

The FDA does not currently regulate the chemical ingredients and labels.

• In fact, the FDA also does not regulate:

– The amount of different chemicals that can be used to make e-juice

– The cleanliness of facilities that produce e-juice

* Link to original image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pre-Mixed_e-liquid_bottle.JPG © Stanford University